Current and potential providers of blood pressure self-screening: a mixed methods study in Oxfordshire

• Published in: BMJ open 2017-03, Vol.7 (3), p.e013938-e013938
• Main Authors: Tompson, A C, Fleming, S G, Heneghan, C J, McManus, R J, Greenfield, S M, Hobbs, F D R, Ward, A M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Blood pressure; Blood Pressure Determination - methods; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular Medicine; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug stores; Family physicians; Feasibility studies; Health Care Surveys - methods; Health Care Surveys - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Hypertension; Interviews; Interviews as Topic; Mixed methods research; Obstetrics; Open access; Patients; Pharmacy; Primary care; Primary Health Care - methods; Qualitative research; Religion; Self Care - methods; Sports & recreation clubs; Systematic review; United Kingdom
• ISSN: 2044-6055; 2044-6055
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013938

ObjectivesTo (1) establish the extent of opportunities for members of the public to check their own blood pressure (BP) outside of healthcare consultations (BP self-screening), (2) investigate the reasons for and against hosting such a service and (3) ascertain how BP self-screening data are used in primary care.DesignA mixed methods, cross-sectional study.SettingPrimary care and community locations in Oxfordshire, UK.Participants325 sites were surveyed to identify where and in what form BP self-screening services were available. 23 semistructured interviews were then completed with current and potential hosts of BP self-screening services.Results18/82 (22%) general practices offered BP self-screening and 68/110 (62%) pharmacies offered professional-led BP screening. There was no evidence of permanent BP self-screening activities in other community settings.Healthcare professionals, managers, community workers and leaders were interviewed. Those in primary care generally felt that practice-based BP self-screening was a beneficial activity that increased the attainment of performance targets although there was variation in its perceived usefulness for patient care. The pharmacists interviewed provided BP checking as a service to the community but were unable to develop self-screening services without a clear business plan. Among potential hosts, barriers to providing a BP self-screening service included a perceived lack of healthcare commissioner and public demand, and a weak—if any—link to their core objectives as an organisation.ConclusionsBP self-screening currently occurs in a minority of general practices. Any future development of community BP self-screening programmes will require (1) public promotion and (2) careful consideration of how best to support—and reward—the community hosts who currently perceive little if any benefit.